What is VTS?
Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) is an inquiry-based teaching strategy for all grade levels. The goal of VTS is not to teach the history of a work of art but, rather, to encourage students to observe independently and to back up their comments with evidence.
VTS provides a way to jumpstart a process of learning to think deeply applicable in most subjects from poetry to math, science and social studies.It provides for open-ended yet highly structured discussions of visual art, and significantly increases students’ critical thinking, language, and literacy skills along the way.
Through VTS' rigorous group 'problem-solving' process, students cultivate a willingness and ability to present their own ideas, while respecting and learning from the perspectives of their peers. Engaged by contributing observations and ideas, the students participate in VTS-based lessons in ways they often don’t in others. VTS is a curriculum for schools; as a method of discussion, it is used in many art museums.
Experience with VTS produces growth in all students, from challenged and non-English language learners to high achievers.
In VTS discussions, teachers support student growth by facilitating discussions of carefully selected works of visual art.
Teachers Ask...
Teachers are asked to use three open-ended questions:
- What's going on in this picture?
- What do you see that makes you say that?
- What more can we find?
3 Facilitation Techniques:
- Paraphrase comments neutrally
- Point at the area being discussed
- Linking and framing student comments
Student Expectations
Students are asked to:
- Look carefully at works of art
- Talk about what they observe
- Back up their ideas with evidence
- Listen to and consider the views of others
- Discuss many possible interpretations